I am definitely not the best at keeping up with a blog, so many little sweet interruptions during the day, my thoughts are left incomplete so often when I sit down to accomplish tasks. I actually love to blog, but writing doesn't come easy for me if I don't have a couple hours of silence. So, I am finally blogging about this beautiful family that is near and dear to my heart.

I have known the Hopkins family for quite some time now and saw them through their first, second and now third adoptions. But this last adoption by far weighed heavy on my heart as I spent many days thinking and praying for these girls to be able to come home to be with their adoptive family. To be able to meet them and capture these beautiful images for them was such an honor.

I think this quote sums up what I saw the day of this photoshoot....

“I didn’t give you the gift of life,But in my heart I know.The love I feel is deep and real,As if it had been so.For us to have each otherIs like a dream come true!No, I didn’t give youThe gift of life,Life gave me the gift of you.”Unknown

Bringing all of these precious children together to call each other family and brothers & sisters, just makes me smile. Brian and Danna have done a beautiful job blending this family together not by blood but by love.

“They may not have my eyes, they may not have my smile, but they have all my heart.” Unknown

All 12 kids....they were all a joy to work with!

We had so much fun out there, the weather was perfect and the sun was shining down on each one of these precious children! And during the shoot a nice gentlemen showed up riding a horse and the kids all got to visit with him and the younger ones got to ride for a bit. They were excited!

I just have to share these ones because of the connection and the beautiful bond between mother and child....I cried when I processed these images....just to see these babies finally be held in the arms of someone to call mom and feel her love....May her arms never tire of holding these precious babies....

And these two are the ones that brought this family together through prayer and their steadfast love for their kids. May God continue to bless them as they raise these kids from childhood to adults. It's no easy task what these two have chosen to do and have been called to do. Thank you Brian and Danna for choosing me to capture this special day. I am truly changed and moved by it.

A year later I am photographing her one year birthday! Little miss T was one of my newborns that I photographed last May and her parents brought her in for a fun little Cake Smash session! I was thrilled! She looked adorable! The outfit and party hat was of course made by her mom and the cake was too! Taylor you did just a great job!

Hmm...where should I start?

We got a little smile from her! She was making us work hard on those fun smiles, but loved the cake her mama made!

It was so darn cute when she decided to just lean over and take a big bite! It reminded me of how unflexible I am LOL, babies are so darn flexible it cracks me up!

Here mom have some!

And she's done! I absolutely LOVE cake smash sessions! Book one today, its so fun to document this age!

As we all know the weather can change in a minute around these parts and sometimes spending a couple hours getting a family ready for a shoot, just to have it be rescheduled, or have the kiddos miserable, cold & wet is no fun at all! Well, I am proud to announce, I now have studio space available! This sweet family was my first to get to try it out! They loved being able to be barefoot and not have to worry about have shoes and jackets for the kids! It was fun and relaxing!

I would love to hear from you if your interested in booking an indoor shoot! I will still provide lifestyle type photography in your home if you choose, but now there are more options to choose from!

I love this mom and daughter shot! Taylor is such a beautiful mama inside and out!

​Mariah Allen Photography Studios & Associates is a wedding & portrait boutique studio located in beautiful Bozeman, Montana. Mariah Allen is one of Montana's top leading senior photographers and is also a nationally recognized and featured senior photographer. ​